Press control mechanism



March 17, 1936. G, s LDW N 2,034,456

PRESS CONTROL MECHANI SM Filed March 28. 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet l FIG-2 INVENTOR -GEORGE S. BALDWIN A TTORNEU March 17, 1936. Y

G. S. BALDWIN PRESS CONTROL MECHANISM Filed March 28. 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 .INVENTOR GEORGE S. BALDWIN www ATTO EYS March 17, 1936. 5,3 wm 2,034,456

PRESS CONTROL MECHANISM Filed March 28, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. -ll

FIG. I2

March 17, 1936. e. s. BALDWIN 2,034,456

PRESS CONTROL MECHANISM Filed March 28. 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR GEORGE S. BALDWIN E 31mm! 1? March 17, 1936. G. s. BALDWIN 2,034,456

PRESS CONTROL MECHANISM Filed March 28. 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q. v Q

\ L 0 v Q Q l 2' LL ATTORN Y6 Patented Mar. 17, 1936 I UNI-TED STATES 2,034,456 mmss comor. mncnsmsu George S. Baldwin,

Company, Norwood, Ohio Cleveland Heights, out, assigner to The American Laundry Machin Ohio, a corporation of Application March 28, 1934, Serial No. 117,870

This invention relatesgto a control mechanism for a. plurality of power operated machines and more particularly to a control for tandem or cross operation of two machines wherein a closing operation takes place at one machine simultaneously with an opening operation at the other machine.

This invention is illustrated herewith in connection with two presses of the type generally used in laundry or garment work and an object of the invention is to provide a power distribut- 'ing member for controllingthe application of power alternately to press-opening and pressclosing mechanism at two machines and arranged. so that the power is supplied simultaneously to the press-closing mechanism of one machine and the press-opening mechanism of, a second machine.

Anothenobject of the invention is to arrange a control for two machines whereby they "are continuously kept in step, that is to say, regardless of the speed of-the operator in working at either machine, both machines will remain in phase with one machine open or ready to open when the other machine is closed or ready to close.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for timing the period of operation of a machine, in this embodiment, the period during which a pressing machine is closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tandem control mechanism for two machines as above described, together with means for preventing injury to the operator due topremature closing of the machine upon which she is en'- gaged, andsafety mechanism for insuring opening'of the machines under all circumstances in time to prevent injury to pressing members or materials in process.

other objects and advalntageswill be apparent from the accompanying drawings together with the description, and the essential features will be summarized in the claims. g

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is-a side elevation of a press embodying my invention with the pressing bed in open position; Fig. 2 is a partialview similar to Fig. 1 showing the bed in' pressing engagement with the head; Fig. 3 is a plan view .01 the control valves, showing the valves in section and including a diagrammatic showing of the control mechanism for distribution of power to two machines; Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of Fig; 3 and including diagrammatically a part of the control mechanism for "the distribution of power to a second machine;

'Fig. 5 is a view along the line 6-5 of Fig. 3; Fig.

6 is an enlarged view of the portion of the control echanism shown in the upper portion of Fig. 1, the view of the valve mechanism being substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; Figs. 5 'l to 11 inclusive are views along similarly numbered lines of Fig 3; Fig. 12 is an enlarg view of one of the valves of Fig. 3; Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of a modified control system;

Fig. 14 is the electrical equivalent of the fluid operated system'of Fig. 13; while Fig. 15 is a; schematic layout of the fluid system of the machine of Figs. 1-12'.

While the invention in some of its broader aspects is applicable to many types of machines 15 using electrical or fluid pressure power means, I have chosen to illustrate the control mechanism as applied to fluid-pressure operated presses or the type illustrated, described and claimed in the copending application of Angus F. Hanney, Ser.

No. 721,259, filed April" 19, 1934, showing a press suitable for use in garment and laundry work.-

My invention comprises in general a commutator or power distributing member in combine.-

=tion with two presses and designed to supply 25 power to opening mechanism of one press and closing mechanism of another press simultaneously. Each press has acontrol member having two positions, one position controlling press close ing and the other position controlling press open- 80 mg. The power distributing mechanism is so arranged. as to normally supply power to the two machines in opposite phase, that is to say,-

with one press in position to close and the other press in position to open. The distributing mech- 85 anism is preferably arranged to stop if both presses are in the same phase, that is to -say, I both-open or both in position-to close. By this arrangement it .is assured that the operatorwill at all .times keep the machines in step and if she 40 is delayed at one machine beyond the normal period 'botlrmachines will be open, the power distributing mechanism will stop and will not continue-until she has moved the control mem-' ber of that machine at which. she is working to 46 press-closing. position. The power distributing mechanism, inits normal operation, will open eacli press a predetermined time after its 0105-7 ing. In addition. each press is supplied with an emergency timing mechanism to open the same 50 after a predetermined time which will be somewhat eater than the normal perioddetermined by the setting of the power distributing means. This emergency timer mechanism serves largely as a safety arrangement to prevent either press lying thereupon.

remaining closed for a period long enough to cause damage to thepress padding or to work While my invention does not depend upon the 5 use of any particular form of power means, I have chosen to illustrate two pressw opened and closed by fluid power while using electrical power for the interconnecting of the control. members of two machines to insure the maintaining of the machines in opposite phase, this same electrical power being used in the driving mechanism of the power distributing means. The control mechanism of each press is mlgst clearly seen in Figs.

3 and 4, together with t e general views of Figs.

1 and 2 and sumcient description will be given here to understand the operation of the press, reference being had to the above mentioned copending application for furtherdetails if desired.

h press comprises in general, frame membe 20 supporting a pressing head 2| and having rails 22upon which moves a carriage 23 into and out of registration with the head. On the carriage is a bed member 24 supported for. vertical movement relative to the carriage from 25 which it is raised by contact rom beneath against a a downwardly extending p as lever in a counterclockwise essure pin 25. A cylis supplied for movposition and raising into pressure engageinder and piston motor 26 ing the bed intoregistering the bed from the carriage -30 ment with the head. A piston 21 moves vertically in the cylinder 26 which lifts the piston rod .29 together'with a yoke or saddle member 56 which is secured to the piston The saddle member in turn is pivoted to a cam lever 3| by a con-'- 33 nection 32, the lever being pivoted to the frame 9f the cam lever has an active portion 34 and adwell portion '25 adapted to, engage a follower 26 on a carriage-moving lever 31 which is pivoted to theframe at I i carriage. Movement of the piston upwardly in'its cylinder causes clockwise movement of cam lever 2| whichfor the first portion of the movement of the cam lever 'actuates the carriage-moving direction until the I bed is in registration with the ,head and thereafter the dwell portion 35 of the cam lever holds the bed in registering position while further movement upwardlyof the piston rod 29 carries a boss 46 into contact with pressure pin 25 and raises the bed into pressing engagement with the head. Upon release of pressureincylinder 26 the piston rod and saddle move downward due to I the weight of'the parts and spring 4| swings lever 61 and he bed to forward or open position. 42

indicates a snubberfor the horizontal motion of the bed.

The control valves for the supply and exhaust of fluid pressure to the cylinder and piston motor 26 are grouped in a common valve block indicated in general at 45 in Figs. 1 and 2. The arrange+ ment of these valves is more clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 4 where 44 indicates a primaryinlet valve,

45 a secondary inlet valve or flnal pressure valve,

5 46 is an exhaust valve, while 41 is a power release cylinder for moving the valve controls to fluid 7 pressure exhaust position, the control 'of fluid flow to the power cylinder being byway of pilot valve 46.

The-valve block comprises an-upper portion containing the valves proper and a lower portion through which are cored passageways for conducting fluid toand from the various valves. The I main su p y. is by way of conduit 46, fllter 56, and 'forwar dly extending passageway 5| which com- 6. A 4o link 39 connects the carriage-moving lever to'the municates by way ofpessageway 52 with valve 44, by passageway 53 with valve 45, and by passageway 54 with valve 46. In passageway 52 is a valve 55 which is hereinafter designated the tandem valve. This valve is adjustable by the op 'erator tothe position of Fig. 3 or the position of Fig.- l2. For the present description it will be assumed to occupy the position of Fig. 12. In passageway 52 a restricted orifice, 56 may be provided fora purpose'later disclosed. On their outlet sides valves 44 and 45 communicate with chamber 51 which also extends to communicate I with one side of exhaust valve 46. Chamber 5'! is connectedby conduit 58 with motor 26. The outlet side of pilot valve 48 is connectedby conduit 56 with release cylinder 41. The outlet side of. exhaust valve 46 is connected by conduit 66- toa mufller 6|. 1 Any suitable timer may be used to perform the functions here ascribed to the emergency-timing 20 mechanism. The form illustrated is that of the copending Hanney application mentioned above. When' fluid is admitted to chamber 57, it flows by conduit 62, by-pass 63, controlled by adjustable needle-valve 64, to a reservoir 65. The reservoir communicates by conduit 66 with a fluid pressure actuated. trip mechanism 61, biased in unoperated position by spring 68. Whenever a press is closed for a sufficient time to allow pres-- sure in reservoir 65 and conduit .66 to overcome spring 66, the trip will be operated causing an arm 66 to engage the stem 48 of pilot valve 46, thus admitting pressure to release cylinder 41. Whenever the press opens, whether by the timer mechanism or otherwise, relief of pressure in chamber 51 permits opening of check valve 65 to evacuate reservoir 65 and conduit 66, so that the timer mechanism is ready for another cycle of its operation. g

The various control valves are normally closed by springs and actuators. for opening them lie 'upona common cam shaft 10 which is supported in suitable bearings and is actuated in pressclosing' direction manually by meansof a forward pull upon control handle .1 I by the operator. 4| Control handle H is connected with the cam shaft 10 by a link 12 and an arm "which is rigid with the cam shaft. A pull on the manual control will therefore move the arm 16 in a clockwise direction as se in Figs. 6 to 11 and will. cause cam 5. 14 to engage the stem 44' of valve 44 thus opening the primary inlet-valve. The exhaust valve 46 is'actnated by a cam 15 rigid on shaft 16 and so arranged in relation to f cam 14 that when valve 44 is closed valve 46 is I. open and vice versa.

- The final pressure inlet valve 45 is actuated -.by a two-step eccentricarrangement best seen in Figs. 6 and 7. An eccentricj6, rigidly secured to'shaft 10, carries a sleeve 16'; Rigid with the .60

sleeve is a cam 11 adapted to actuate stem 45' of valve 45. Also rigid with the sleeve is an arm 18 arranged to rotate the sleeve about the eccentric after the bed reaches registering position beneaththe head. This arrangement comprises 65 a rod 19 extending downwardly from arm 16 and guided loosely in'a bracket on the'frame. A bar 66 rigid with the 'bed 24 is notched at its free end to engagea shoulder 6| on rod 1 6 when the bed registersbeneath the head. Thenas the bed 7.0 starts-tomove upward rod 16 is lifted, arm 16 and cam 11. rotate clockwise and valve 45 is o ed.

Cam shaft 16 is rotated counterclockwise as seen injFigs. 6 to 11 to open the press. This is accomplished by release cylinder 41 mentioned 7 above. The cylinder is provided with. a piston 82 having a rod 83 connected by a link 84 with an. arm 85 which is rigidly fastened to shaft 10.

Travel of piston 82 may be limited byoil-satuabove described in connection with Fig. 8.

Pilot valve 48 may also be actuated by a finger guard 86 which depends in a position in front of the head and closely above the path of travel of the pressing surface of the bed. The guard is freely swingable in a clockwise direction about shaft 81. An arm 88 on shaft 81 is arranged to turn when the guard moves and is connected by a rod 88 with a cam member 88' which is freely rotatable on shaft 10. As seen inIfig. 8, rearward movement of rod 88 will rotate cam 88' clockwise and depress stem 48' of valve 48 thus admitting fluid pressure to the release cylinder. The finger guard thus is available to open the press at the will of -the operator regardless of any timing mechanism, and will always open the press if the operators hands are lying upon the bed as it moves toward registering position.

Operation of a single press is as the parts in the position of Fig. l, the operator arranges work on bed 24 and pulls control handle 'II toward her. Exhaust valve 45 closes, primary inlet valve 44 opens and pressure flows through conduit 48, passageways 5| and 52, valve 55, retac strlcted orifice 56, valve 44, chamber 51 and conduit 58 to. piston motor 26.- Through the operative connections described bed 24 moves at a rate controlled by orifice 55 until it registers with head 2I. Bar 80 engages rod 18, and as the bed starts up this interlocking arrangement opens final inlet valve 45 and the bed moves rapidly into pressing engagement with the head, as shown in Fig. 2. After a lapse of time corresponding tojhe period of the emergency timer mechanism, or'

otherwise by the operator moving guard; pilot valve 48 is opened. Fluid then passes through conduit 58 to release cylinder 41, piston 82 moves toward shaft- 10 and rotates the shaft to close valves 44 and 45, at the same time opening exhaust valve 46. Motor 26 is then evacuated and the bed returns to forward or open position for another cycle of operations.

In connecting up two presses for tandem operation, I provide a power distributing member arranged to supply power simultaneously to the press-opening mechanism of one press and to the press-closing mechanism of another press. The present embodiment comprises a rotary valve 80,

' the construction of which is best seen in Figs.

3 and 4. The form here shown is illustrative only, it being desired that passageways be provided in the valve for simultaneously distributing fluid pressure through one set of conduits to one machine and througha second set of conduitsto a second machine. In the form shown, fluid pressure enters the valve centrally thereof through conduit 8| and is distributed through oppositely extending radial passageways 82 and 93 spaced longitudinally of the axis of the rotary 41 through passageway 58 will thus- 'ing tothe release mechanism of the second press.

extend follows; With 10511. Contact I05 is connected 7 I05 is connected with;

"press-closing position, current is supplied to mostops.

. valve. The passageway 82 through port CA supplies conduit 84 which leads to the inlet valve or press-closing mechanism of the first press and through port CD supplies conduit 840 which leads to the press-closing chanism of a second press. Valve passageway ggkrough port 0A supplies fluid pressure to cond 85 leading to the release. or press-opening mechanism of the first press and through port 03 supplies conduit 85A lead- The rotary valve is thus arranged to supply fluid.

pressure simultaneously to ports CA and 0B, or

to ports 0A and CB. The passageway 82 may around a portion of the circumference of the rotary valve as shown in-Fig. 4 for a purpose l5 later described. g f

Valve is rotated b electric motor 88 preferably through reduction gearing 81. The supply of electric current for the motor 88 is by way of lines 88 and 88 connected with a suitable source. In one of these lines, as for instance 89, switch mechanism is supplied arranged so that synchronizing members on the. two machines must be in opposite phases, that is, onein pressopen and one in press-closed position, to supply electric-power to the motor 85. In-the presl0a areused for synchronizing purposes. To this end each shaftis supplied with a switch member I00 which comprises a contact carrying arm IOI rigidly clamped upon the end of shaft I0 and preferably insulated therefrom by insulation I02 and carrying a contact I03 adapted to make contact with press-closing contact I04 or pressopening contact I05. Contact I03 is electrically connected to binding post I05. Like'switch members for a second press are shown diagrammati-v cally in Fig. 3 and are marked with similar ref-. erence characters having the suiflx af. Con- "t I04 is connected by line I01 with contact 4 by line .108 with contact I04a.' Binding post line 88, while binding post I08a is connected by line I08 with one of the terminals of motor 85. If cam shaft 10 is in press-closing position and 4 shaft 10a in press-opening position, current is, supplied to motor 86 by the circuit 88-I06--' |03+I04I0|I05a-l03al08a-I09. If shaft I0 is in press-opening position and shaft 10a in tor 86 by the, circuit 9 9-I05-I03--I05-I08- I.04a-I03a-I05a-l08. If both cam shafts are inpress-closing position, or both in press-opening position, no current is supplied and motor 86' For tandem. operation valve 55 is rotated 80 from the position of Fig. 12 to the position of Figs.

' 3 and 15. For this purpose valve 55 may be provided with an upstanding stem IIO, which is rotatable'by an arm m, through an actuating 6 connection II2 placed conveniently for the operator. with valve 55 in the position of Fig. 3 fluid pressure for valve 44 is cut off from conduit 48 and must be supplied by conduit 94 through the power distributing member. Since the only other supply of pressure to motor 26 is by wayof valve 45, and since this valve cannot be operated until the bed has moved to registering position and started upward. the press cannot be closed except when pressure is supplied in con- 7 duit 84 by-rotary valve 80, even though the-bed were. moved" to registering position by hand. Note also that when pressure is supplied through conduit 94 the press will not close until the 7 operator pulls control ha'ndle II.

out instance valve controlling cam shafts 10 and i "In tandem operation the press may'be opened by actuationof pilot valve It the same as be- -narily open the through valve 95.

The tandem operation of two presses will now fore. This may occur through the emergency timer mechanism; if the power distributing member fails to openthe press within the set period, or it may occur by operator actuation of guard I ifshe desires to rearrange the lay of the work,

-or by accidental movement of finger guard it.

However. in tandem operation conduit .5, which is directly connected into cylinder 41, will ordipress when fluid is supplied be described referring to the fully illustrated and describedgressas press A and to the second press aspress Withthepartsoi'pressAinthe position of Fig.1 and press Bas in Fig. 2, and assuming that valve 9| has Just rotated into the position-of Figs. 3 and 4. passa eway 93 of the rotary valve registers with port OB and fluid pressure flow-s from co nduit 5| through conduit 95a to release cylinder "a of press B and opens that press. Press A has been openfor half a revolution of valve BI and normally the operator has had time to remove an ironed workpiece from bed 24 and to arrange an unironed workpiece thereon. She then pulls handle "Ii and I fluid pressure flows thrqugh conduit 8i, passageway 92', port CA, conduit ll, valve 55, valve 44, chamber T and conduit 58 to motor 26 to close press A. The purpose of extending valve passageway 9! some distanceabout the circumference of the valve core is to p ovide pressure supply to the press motor long enough to move the bed lntoregistration and trip theflnal pressure inlet valve so that'the press will close completely. Note in Fig. 4 that the core of valve 50 rotates in a clockwisedlrection and that the leading edge of port 92 coincides with port CA- in the valve casing when port 93 registers with port OB. r The power distributing member thus normally opens the press a predetermined time after it is closed. The timing maybe altered by varying the speed of motor-96 or by changing the gear-.

ing of unit 81; or in any other suitable manner.

The operator cannot the above described tandem control. If she' is slow in arran the work on pressA. the rotary valve will open press B and, both cam; shafts I0 and 10a being in press-opening position, roitary valve 80 will=stop with the leading edge of Port 92 in registration with port CA. When the operator-is ready she pulls handle II and press A closes. If the operator is fast in arranging work on press A' and pulls handle Ii before rotary valve 90 reaches the position of Figs. 3 and 4 .'nothing will happen at press A but, both cam shafts being in press-closing position, rotary valve 90 will stop. The emergency timer of press B is then relied upon to open that press. whereupon valve 90 will continue its rotation and close press A;

Ordinarily the power distributing member will one press is opened substantially simultaneously with the closing of another, which is known as tandem operation, but in the usual tandem v A get in trouble; when using '-connection if the operator is slow in closing one press. work on the'other press may be damaged by too long subjection to heat. The power distributing member-opens the secondmachine at propertime and sets the first-machine to close subject to the will of the operator'. Fig. 13 is a modification shown diagrammatically. The control system showmhere is used in connection with presses of the type illustrated and described in Figs. 1 to 12. The rotary valve I m is similar in tin-r spects to the valve u and e is rotated by a motor having alternate operating circuits controlled by switches I05 and Illa positioned on shafts II and Ila as above described. In thedlagram each of the presses A and B, is provided with a release relay 41, 41a for moving cam shaft ll. Ila in counter-clockwise dlre ction to open the press as previously described. An additionalclosing relay I50; Illa is added in this modification and is adapted, when.

supplied with fluid pressure, to rotate the valveoperating cam shaft ll, Ila in clockwise or pressclosing direction. Valve 95a is provided with'one port I53 in the core which alternately registers.

. during its rotating cycle, with ports m and 'm in the casing. Port I54 suppliesfluid through conduit I56 to the release relay of press A and through conduit I51 supplies fluid to the pressclo'sing relay lila of press B. In a similar manner. port I55 supplies fluid to the release relay 41a of press B and to the olosing relay I55 of press A. The above construction replaces conduits 54 and 95 f Figs. 3 and 4 and valve 55 would be in the rangements of passageways would be equivalent to that. I An, additional valve I55, I581: is provided in the conduit leading to the closing relay of each press.

' This-valve is held in position to close said 0on1 duit by the body of the operator when standing before the press. The embodiment shows 'a treadle i5| biased upwardly by a spring I52.

An operative connection I55. holds valve- I58 in conduit-closing position when the operator stands ontreadle |5i to arrange the work. When the operator steps ofithe treadle, spring I52 opens vaivelSl.

. The operation of the mechanism of Fig. 13 is as follows:

Y The operator having left press A'closed is now at open press B standing on treadle i5la. Valve ll rotatesto register port' I51 in the core with -port I54 in the casing. Fluid travels through conduit iljfto release relay 41 and opens press A.-

Pressure is also supplied to conduit I51 which leads to the closing relay of press B. This is prevented from. operating by valve l58a which is closed by the operator's weight on treadle Illa.

Both presses being now open cam-shafts 15, "a

and switches I00 and illla are in the same phase and motor 95 and valve 90 stops. When the operator finishes the lay on'press B, she simply tion of Fig. 12', or the arwalks away. spring I521: raises 'treadle l5|a which opens valve i5. Pressureactuates closing relay Ina toimove' camshaft 10a in pressclosing direction. Press A being open and press a B closed, valve 80 again starts to rotate. When valve port I53 reaches port I55 the situation is the same as before with the presses reversed.

The treadle I ll thus prevents the press closing until the operator is ready.

My invention is not confined to the means illustrated but includes equivalent means for accomplishing the same result. For instance, the arrangement ofFig. 13 might be duplicated electrically. Insuch an electrical system, valve 901:

would become a rotary switch or commutator,

the conduits would be electrical conductors, the relays might be solenoids,.and valves I58, l58a would be make-and-break switches. Such an arpower means whereby said member has a,ma-

chine-active position and a machine-inactive position; a power distributing-member, power circuits connecting said distributing member with eachof said power means, said distributing member having two positions adapted alternately to energize the machine-active-producing circuit of each machine and the machine-inactive-producing circuit of the other machine, means for continuously moving said distributing member alternately from one of its two positions to the other,

and means automatically interrupting the movement of said distributing member when both synchronizing members are in machine-active, or both in machine-inactive, position.

2. In combination two presses; each having relatively movable pressing members, power operated press opening means, power operated press closing means, and a synchronizing member having operative connections with at least, one of said power operated means whereby said synchronizing member has a press-open position? and a,

press-closed position; a power distributing member, power circuits connecting said distributing member witheach of said power operated means,

said distributing member having two positions adapted alternately to energize the press closing circuit of each press and simultaneously to en-, ergize the press opening circuit of the other press,

means for continuously moving said distributing member alternately from one of its two positions to the other, and means automatically interrupting the movement of said distributing member when both synchronizing members are injpressopen, or both in press-closed, position.

3. In combination two presses; each having relatively movable pressing members, power operated press opening means, power-operated press closing means, a synchronizing member having operative connections with at least one of saidpower operated means whereby said synchronizing member has a press-open position and a pressclosed position, andatimer mechanism with connections for opening the press a predetermined time after the press closes; a power distributing member, power circuits connecting said distributing member with each of said means,said-distrib uting member having two positions adapted alternately to energize the press closing circuit of each press and simultaneously to energize the press opening circuit of the other press. means for continuously moving said distributing member alternately from one of its two positions to the other, the said timer mechanism being set for a predetermined time longer-than the time required to move said distributing member from one of its positions to the other, and means automatically 7 v contacts closed by movement pressure to the ber with each of said means; member having two positions for alternately enerinterrupting the movement in press-open, or both in press-closed, position.

. 4. In combination two presses; each having relatively movable pressing members, power opor said distributing .member when both synchronizing members are erated press opening means, power operated press closing means, control members for each of said means, actuators for said control members mounted on a common shaft, said shaft having a press-opening-produclng position and a pressclos'ing-producing position, and electrical contacts members connecting said distributing member with the press-closing means of each press, said distributing member having two circuit-energizing positions, each position energizing the press closing circuit of one press and the press opening circuit of the other press, an

supply circuits for said motor, each supply circuit including in series the electrical contacts closed by movement" of one shaft into press-openingproducing position and the contacts closed by movement of the other shaft into press-closingpr'oducing position.

5. In combination two presses; each having relatively movable pressing members, press opening means, fluid-pressure actuated press closing means, control valves for said closing means, actuators for said control valves mounted on a shaft, said shafthaving a press-opening-producing position and a press-closing-producing'position, manual means for moving said shaft to pressrclosing-producing position, fluid pressure actuated release press-opening-producing position, and electrical of said shaft into each of its positions; arotary valve having fluid passages therein, a source of fluid supp y for said rotary valve, conduits controlled by said valves and connecting said. rotary valve passages with the closing means of each press, other conduits connecting said rotary valve passages with the release means of each press, said rotary valve having two positions for supplying fluid under press closing conduit for each press alternately and' simultaneously. to the release -means conduit for the other press, an electric motor for rotating said rotary valve, and two power supply circuits for said motor, each supply circuit including in series the electrical contacts closed by movement of one shaft into press-opening-producing position and the contacts closed by movement of the other shaft into press-closingproducing position. 1 a

6. In combination. two presses; each having relatively movable pressing members, power operated press opening means, power operated press closing means, and a synchronizing member having operative connections with at least one of said power operated means whereby said synchronizing member has a press-open position and a pressclosed position; a power distributing .member, power circuits connecting said distributing memsaid-distributing gizing the press closing circuit of each press and the press opening bircuit of the other press, means for continuously moving said distributing member alternately from one of its two positions, to the means for moving said shaft to electric motor for rotating said distributing member, and two power other; each press having a circuit interrupting depression to close the corresponding circuit, and

means normally biasing the treadle upward to thereby move the device to open its circuit; and

. means automatically interrupting the movement of said distributing member when both syn- 10 chronizing members are in press-open, or both in press-closed, position.

'7. In combination a plurality of presses; each having cooperating relatively movable pressing members, fluid pressure actuated power means,

for causing relative movement of said members,

' a source of fluid supply for operating said power means, and means on each press controlling the flow of fluidto said power means from said source;- a fluid distributing member, conduit so means for each press connecting said distributing 85 tributing member.

member with the control means of each press, and a valve ineach of said conduit means having alternative positions adapted to connect said control means with said source or with said dis- 8. In combination a plurality of presses; each having relatively movable pressing members and power operated press actuating means; a power distributing member, power circuits connecting said distributing member with eaclr of said means, said distributing member having positions adapted to energize said power circuits in sequence, and means for moving said distributing member into its various, positions.

9. Two presses in combination as in claim 2, and including operator-operated means for delaying the energization of the press closing circuit of each press.

10. Two presses in combination as in claim 2,

in working pl sition at each press for delaying the energization of the press closing circuit of that press.

11. In combination two presses, each having a 45 pair or cooperating relatively movable pressing members, power means at each pr for causing closing and opening thereof, a distributing member, power circuits connecting said distributing member with each of said power means, said distributing member being movable into two p081" tion for alternately supplying p wer-to each of said circuits, motor means for continuously moving said distributing member alternately from one ot its positions to the other, and means operatively connected with the parts of each press and with said motor means for automatically interrupting the action of said motor means when both presses are closed and when both presses are open. I I

and including means operable by the operator 12. In a pressing machine, c s l s pressing members, power means for causing closing of the 8281881118 members, a power supply circuit tor said eans, a power distributing member for supplying power n d power circuit in timed relation to the suppl of power to another machine, a control m in said circuit biased, toward power supply position, and means -!or holding said control member in power interrupting position by an operator in working pmition at the press.

13. In combination two presses, each coacting pressing members, power means at each press for causing closmg and opening 01' the pressing members thereoi, control means for each power means, each control means having a pressclosing-producing position and a press-openingproducing position, continuously operating means for supplying power'alternately to the power means or each press, and means operated by movement of both control means into pressclosing-producing position or by movement of both control means into press-opening-producing position for interrupting said continuously operating means. U

14-. In combination two. presses, each having coacting pressing members, power means at each press for causing closing and opening of the jpressing members thereof, control means for each power means, each control means having a pressclosing-producing position and a press-openingproducing position, each control means having two power devices operatively connected there- I with ,tor moving "said control means into pressopeningand into'press closing-producing position respectively, and continuously operating other press. 15. The combination of claim 14 includingmeans for interrupting the operation of said continuously operating means upon movement of both power devices into press-opening-producing or into press-closing-producing position,

16. In a pressing machine, coacting pressing members, fluid actuated power means for opening and closing the press, two sources of fluid supply for Quid power means, one source locally controlled and one source remotely controlled, and a valve movable into two positions and da'pted to stay ineither position until again moved, said valve having passages adapted to connect said power,mea'ns alternatively with each supply source as said valve is moved from one 0! its two positions to the other.

' GEORGE S. BALDWIN. 

